Gear

i've always niggly problems with this programme which haven't been important but....tried to upgrade to latest version which refused to install on any drive other than c: despite what it was told. it then decided that it didn't like import and export! bah! humbug! gnashing of teeth! life is too short for this,

so, i've had enough and memory map can go stick their programme where their fly-through can't.

i've re-read alex's fine article comparing them all so i've come down to two choices...anquet or tracklogs.

any recommendations/experiences? (cost doesn't matter)

<lost! but not in paradise>

Parky,
I have Memory Map installed and upgraded on drive F! What were you trying to import/export? Have you tried their tech support? I found the telephone support very good while I was running a legal version. If I can help in any way (being a regulat MM user) just drop me a line and I'll send you my phone number.

It's a case of horses for courses really.

I personally prefer TrackLogs. it's just nice and easy to use - seemed the most intuitive and simple. But that's just my opinion having used all three.

I'd probably prefer it too Alex from what I've heard/seen if only it let you see the actual OS map on screen the way MM does.

try ozi-explorer..
it lets you use any map you want, just scan it in (or build it from streetmap.com screenshots) you can then overlay it onto NASA topographical data freely available off t'inter-web

the same with emapzone nigel. Downloadable from www.emapzone.com

i upgraded to d drive but import/ export disappeared.i've gone to tracklogs which has none of the stupid hang ups of mem.map like the none merging of adjacent elevation detail to name but one.the people behind tracklogs are "outdoor"people themselves(road and mountain bikers/walkers) and i think it shows in the way their maps work.they also do reasonably priced site centred 1:25000 maps of the entire country.i've currently got both mem.map and tracklogs but haven't used mem.map since i got the tracklogs.they have a sample download of both 1:50000 and 1:25000.dead easy to use.
mick

A vote for Anquet here.

Can't comment on Tracklogs as I've never tried it.

I've known several people give up with MemoryMap.

MM is lovely, don't get me wrong, and to see it on your PDA was just as great Dave.

But that said, TrackLogs IS just easier to use, and more intuitive. IMO.

I've used Anquet GB North & South for ages with no problems. Good after sales service from them too.

I use GPSMapMaster, it automatically downloaded and stitched together them Maps and Aerial photo's off Multi-Map.com.
I say downloaded because its no longer available, i beleive because the programmer was breaking some copyright by allowing people direct access to the maps!
Its fantastic though because you can switch between the map and aerial photograph with the click of a button, also you dont have to mess about scanning in maps and photos and setting reference points etc to line everything up, who the hell needs all that?

am now of an age where faffing about with anything (cars, bikes, computers) just isn't isn't worth my time - all those wasted weekends. and i prefer to play with my photos in photoshop.(!!??)
despite having posted two questions on the mm site they haven't yet appeared so i guess this upgrade may be a common problem.
being a "tidy" sort of person my pc is partitioned into roughly 10gb drives which makes general housekeeping a doddle.

ok, i was perhaps a little harsh about mm. it is a good programme....but...having bought 2003 south then upgraded to 2004 south at great cost i expect upgrades to work invisibly. i have enough problems at work with "upgrades" being released for our comfort and ease of use that just don't work. in the past i had great fun what was effectively testing the programming rather than if the damn package worked to our spec.
now i just won't tolerate software that has not been tested properly, especially after the company extracting lots of dosh out of me, as to my mind it displays shoddy workmanship. i'll show my displeasure by going to the competition. <end of that rant>

oh, import and export just wouldn't work. click on the menu option and nothing happened at all!



have looked at the respective sites and looks like tracklogs is going to get the money. i like the centered 25,000 map option which i think is fairly reasonably priced for the flexibility it provides. their site comes over enthusiastically too.

so thanks all

mm is a good program when it works but you weren't harsh at all you are correct.the bits that work are good (all the active log data,speed height time etc.) but it's so clumsy and "unfinished" it's not worth the trouble.i bought the aerial photos for region 7.the map cd covers liverpool to girvan ,the aerial photo cd doesn't reach liverpool and looks like a dog has chewed off the scottish part.the bits in between have to be merged,when they are merged there are half inch (12 mm) white strips all the way across - hardly proffesional looking especially when you attempt to use the fly through.i sent them back after being told the photos did'nt cover the scotland bits of regions 7 and 8 despite what their website shows.the other map programs have seamless and complete elevation data,not so memory map.one of my rides covered region 7 and 8 so i couldn't get a complete elevation profile ,i could have either cd7 elevation showing or cd8.hopeless. end of rant. the tracklogs has so far been a pleasure to use with none of the minor/major niggles of mem. map.
mick

Well I've just got a route covering parts of region 7, 8 and 10 on screen at once. The elevation data and profile are visible for the whole route! Strangely I can also have different aerial maps joined without big white lines too.

I'm not trying to promote MM, in fact they wouldn't approve of where my complete collection of UK maps have come from (free online), but who actually uses a flythrough or 3D when out in the hills for navigation?

As for being clumsy and unfinished - it tracks my route accurately, I can prepare my routes quickly and simply, routes transfer in either direction between PC and PDA, and shows me my exact position on a real map when out in the hills
- which is all I require. Best of all with a little research you can get it free. To be honest I'm not sure how much I'd be prepared to pay for it, and I wouldn't buy all the maps (especially the aerial maps which are pretty much a gimmick anyway.

The only reason I'm even bothering to add to this post is that people seem to be having problems getting it to do things I do regularly with my PDA and MM. If someone can show me a better product that will give me a real OS map displayed onscreen on my iPaq and do all the things mentioned above then I'm happy to give it a go. Just ask Alex or Jon how MM looked on a PDA in Wasdale. Jon even said "That's how GPS should work".

Before I get inundated with emails asking for where I found the maps online (and how to use 2003 maps with the 2004 version) I may as well let you know you'll have to find them yourself as I dont want MM breathing down my neck for distributing software - but it isn't hard to find!

Dave. You are right, I was impressed with the software running on the PDA, and with live realtime updates from a GPS superemposing an updated position on the map...it's an awesome bit of kit with great potential.

It's just that in relation to the other softwares I feel that it is not as good, well written user friendly, or intuitive as TrackLogs.

i understand your enthusiasm dave. but i don't have a pda and don't see me getting one in the near or distant future (mind you i said that about a gps and pda is still rapidly evolving - i'm thinking screens here) - i don't drive anymore as living in londion i find i don't really need a car where the pda would really come into its own(and far too stressful and prohibits a few beers at the end - always NEVER drank and drove after once trying to play squash after a pint - it's surprising just how much it screws your reflexes up), don't have a wallet as pockets were designed for money and my travel card holder doubles as for plastic cards, don't have a diary and use paper and pen for anything else as it's the most flexible thing there is <what am i going on about!>

mm has just p*ssed me off once too often. tracklogs has now been ordered.

i like printing maps so they can get soggy, whack me round the face in my map holder and best of all, disintegrate in the wash when i forget to take out of my pocket.
i print a map for me, my walking partner and two spares (one each) so we can take turns in directions/where are we - still doesn't stop us getting lost at times and i still believe my compass over the direction my gps tells me.

<goes away wailing about the world.....>